Accounts of refugees from
Savannah, heretofore published in this paper, concur in stating that
General Sherman has publicly declared that he may not be able to restrain his troops when he invades
South Carolina, and he does not know that he shall attempt to.
Every-one knows what the rank and file of invading armies are most composed of. They are, in general, the refuse of society, the scum of the nations, outcasts, outlaws and Pariahs of the earth.
Even the few of them who before were respectable citizens, become demoralized by their removal from the social and moral influences of home and the evil associations and temptations of their new mode of life.
That the
Yankee armies are no exception to this rule, is manifest from the hideous crimes and hard track of desolation which, even when professedly restrained by their commanders, have signalized their march through the
South.
What human imagination can compass the horrors which the removal of all restraint from such armies means?
It means the burning of every house, the dishonor of every woman, the indiscriminate murder of old and young from one end of
South Carolina to the other.
That is what it means; nothing more, nothing less.
General Sherman need not say that he
cannot restrain his troops.--If he cannot, he is unfit for his position.
Any general, who chooses, has at his disposal ample means of enforcing discipline and good behavior.
When
Sherman intimates his doubts whether he shall attempt to restrain his soldiers, he gives us the only reason why he cannot.
It remains to be seen whether our own military authorities will be able, or be inclined, to restrain the vengeance with which such dispositions should be resisted and punished.
